ABOUT THE PARISH CHURCH OF SAINT JAMES

Leo Shelly, Church Historian

Saint James Church was established in 1744 when the Rev. Richard Locke came to the colonies as a missionary, financed in part by the royal generosity of King George II. On October 3rd of that year, Reverend Locke gathered members of the Church of England for divine service at the old courthouse in Penn Square, Lancaster. Then, as now, the parish was a diverse congregation, at that time comprising English, Germans, African Americans, and Native Americans. more...